re: other directions
Well, it's true it's up to those who claim CATS can be done to prove it.
There are signs like the 3 giant orbital manned wheels in GEO (proposed by AC Clarke in 1945) and the real presence of dozens of unmanned small comsats in that same orbit.
Nowadays, it must be instant gratification and profit or it must not be.
I just don't know what astronauts would do on another planet, that would immediately benefit us all.
I don't see private companies doing anything like the Apollo or even the Shuttle program.
But if we let robots thrive, we might be heading for surprises. Let's trust the robots.
Raoul